Foster City

TOP 5 REASON TO LIVE IN FOSTER CITY

1. Local Parks
Foster City is built around a series ofparks that brighten up the neighborhood andprovide a recreational stomping ground for the community. These parks are great for the whole family and feature athletic facilities from baseball
diamonds to soccer fields and jungle gyms. The best part of Foster City parks is that there is always something new to discover...many parks are ´hidden¡ at the end of small pathways that appear to go nowhere. Wandering
through the city on a summer day is a great way
to uncover these hidden treasures.

2. Bay Views
Residents of Foster City get to enjoy breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. The city is built on the Bay and many homes have beautiful views of the water. This makes
living in Foster City feels like living in a coastal resort town. For those who live further inland, the Bay is still accessible through the numerous trails spanning the length of
the coast.

3. Pet-Friendly
As one of the most pet-friendly neighborhoods on the Peninsula, Foster City is the perfect place to have a furry friend. The numerous parks are ideal for letting dogs and cats exercise or just bask in the sun. Another popular spot for dogs and their owners to congregate is the local dog park?great for letting pets run around and meet new
friends. More important, people in Foster City convene around their animals. Groups of neighbors walk their pets each evening and residents arenÿt shy about introducing their pets.

4. Recreational Activities
Looking for ways to spend your weekends? Foster City offers recreational activities for the whole family. For kids, there are baseball and soccer teams, as well as art classes
and summer camps. The community rallies around its children?so local sporting events organized by the City become a means for making friends and socializing with neighbors. For grownups, Foster City offers sewing classes, yoga and several annual events, including an Art & Wine Festival.

5. Lagoons
A beautiful series of lagoons snakes its way through the city, making the water accessible to everyone. The lagoons are perfect for enjoying on a sunny day or strolling around
on a lazy afternoon. But, they also serve a more important purpose: they comprise Foster Cityÿs levee system, which protects it from flooding when water levels rise. The levee
system is well-maintained and residents brag they donÿt even need flood insurance because the levees are so effective.

Foster City Overview

Dreaming about a home on the water surrounded
by trees, parks and winding lagoons? Living in Foster City is perfect for those yearning for a home in a resort-like environment. Well-planned neighborhoods, luscious parks
and location on the San Francisco Bay give this city a dreamy feel.

´Living in Foster City is like living in a resort-it is beautiful,¡ said Realtor Edd McKibben. ´You get resort living without paying the astronomical fees that you would on a marina.¡ Foster Cityÿs charm becomes even more apparent while walking through the city. Trees line the streets and parks appear at many corners. Further exploration can uncover ´hidden parks¡ at the end of driveways that seem to lead nowhere. ´Something amazing about Foster City is the hidden parks that many donÿt even know about, they appear out of nowhere!¡ said Realtor Phyllis McArthur. ´I canÿt think of any other city with so many parks.¡

Because of its location on the Peninsula, Foster City gets great weather. Sunny days and warm summers give the town an easy, vacation-like feel. The frosting on the cake: Foster City is surrounded by a series of lagoons that wind through the neighborhoods. Many homes are located right on the lagoons and residents have views of the water from their backyards. For those who live further from the water,
the lagoons are still accessible via local parks. ´We have a unique plan around luscious blue lagoons?there a benches throughout the lagoons that are perfect for enjoying the water,¡ said Foster City Mayor Linda Koelling.

Foster City is located on the San Francisco Peninsula, 25 miles from San Francisco and 30 from San Jose. It is accessible via the 101 (although the 280 is a short drive away), as well as the San Mateo Bridge and Highway 92.
Its location makes commuting in every direction (whether north to San Francisco or east to Oakland) a breeze.

Families can easily make Foster City their
home, thanks to the Cityÿs recreational programs
and parks. Kids can take advantage of
the townÿs baseball diamonds, tennis courts,
soccer fields, jungle gyms and beaches located
throughout more than 20 parks. The City also
sponsors an abundance of activities for teens,
kids and even grown ups. ´We offer a tremendous amount of activities and planned leisure services,¡ said Koelling.
´For example, we have a number of well-organized
sports teams (from soccer to baseball). During the summer we also offer concerts in the park for the whole family.¡ These city-wide events are attended by people from
across the Bay Area. ´We are renowned for our fireworks
display for July 4th...we have one of the best displays.
The Wine Festival, which is sponsored by the Chamber of
Commerce, is also incredible...each year thousands of
people come to enjoy the food, wine and art. Thereÿs always
something going on,¡ said McKibben. McKibben is a
member of SAMCAR (the San Mateo County Association of Realtors). SAMCAR is a professional trade organization
of Realtors on the Peninsula. The Association provides
members with opportunities for community involvement and
access to a network of professional resources
and business contacts. Realtors must abide by
a strict code of ethics and participate in additional
training above and beyond state real estate license requirements.

Children attend schools in the Foster City-
San Mateo School district. ´We have good schools that cater to the many young families out here,¡ said Koelling. ´Weÿve got public schools, private schools and even a JCC with
a private day school. We have tremendous opportunities for parents and choices for their children.¡ Foster City is also a great place for pets, ´As you walk down the street, you see dozens of people walking their pets, especially in the evenings. Itÿs a very pet-friendly town,¡ said McArthur. Another benefit of living in Foster City is working with an organized government that sustains an excellent infrastructure. The City is in exceptional financial shape and works hard to plan for the future and care for its residents.
As a result, it is able to keep Foster City clean and safe, as well as provide numerous activities and services for its residents. This is especially evident in its infrastructure,
which has stood the test of time and continues to be an example for other cities. For example, Foster City has one of the best sewage treatment facilities in the nation and
its levee system is closely monitored and maintained.
Koelling brags that the levee system is so secure that residents donÿt even need flood insurance.

A clean city on the water with parks, lagoons and a well-maintained infrastructure is more than just a dream. Foster City has worked hard to plan this picture-perfect community for its residents.

By MEGAN LYNCH